This video is cool because he's doing tricks that are really hard, but look super easy when he's doing them. (note the crank slides) But more than that, the tricks are just really creative and make you want to go hop on a bike.

Also, for you bike geeks, note the freecoaster that lets him roll backwards without having to pedal.

Troy Merkle Winter Edit from Hardcore Sportz on Vimeo.

Be warned that after watching this video you may catch the travel bug. I resisted posting this video so much, but the last wall ride to gap wall ride was too much not to post it.

Plus it's one of those videos that makes you all warm and toasty inside.

enjoy. I certainly did.

Train Trip from joe rich on Vimeo.

Remember this trailer? Well here is the full video from that race. Man, looks like fun huh? Should we race soon?

In my mind I see the perfect day: rip pow all morning, then return to sunny, dry streets where we can ride bikes in shorts and a t-shirt. Too much to ask?

Pay attention to the lines being cut on these ramps. I just picked my jaw back up off the ground.

No problem!

Gravity FTW !

Spotted here.

Hipster, trendy, skater, what-the-fuck-ever-- everyone seems to come with a pre-attachted label these days. Well, incase you are unable to come to a consensus with your friends over which social niche you or that kid with the flashy bike would be categorized under, I have unearthed some interesting data. I hope that this will clarify some issues as well as open up new grounds to social stereotyping.

Over Christmas break I was visiting my friend at his mall job. My friend works for a certain, "action sports" clothing store that shall remain nameless. During my visit I came upon a special binder, the contents of which I found too good to be true. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves, however, is the evidence of this binder to say that all these social stereotypes were in fact invented by the corporate companies that now dominate the, "action sports" scene of today?

Fuck yeah I a.... uuh

eeehh... Kinda?

Whats up with those jeans? Their all...huge.

BINGO!!! Good to be home.

Yeah WHATEVA.

So what does this mean? In my opinion, nothing. It just goes to show that some corporate mall company has taken initiative to categorize all the different looking people that walk into their stores-- ultimately in an attempt to further their sales by appealing to each individual group. Cool, its marketing. Happens all the times for pretty much EVERYTHING. I guess what I really found remarkable was the word, "Hipster" written down in big bold letters, like a chapter in a science book. I know people don't go around saying, "Hey, look at that All American Surf /Skate kid." Though the word, "Hipster" gets tossed around more than a beach ball at a Nickleback concert.

So what are you? None of these? Well thats fine, Im sure we could find your style in some catalog. Again, that really doesn't mean much. I think the main point that I take away from this discovery is this: humans LOVE to categorize things. So no matter what it is, or what role it plays in society-- its gunna get a category, a niche, a label. I used to fight it. The labels had such a sting, such a negative connotation. Well, no more. Im down, call me what you like. I am what I am. I like the clothes I wear, I like the activities that I do, and if these come with a label that can be looked up in a mall, "style guide" so be it. I can't speak for kids that look like me, smoke cigs and act like they are oh so too cool for school. Is the phrase, "Don't judge a book by its cover" too cheesy of an ending? Well who cares?! Live free, and PARTY...or don't. Just don't cramp my style MANG. *Oh for anyone that reads this blog, and doesn't know who I am or what I look like-- Hipster-- All the way to the right. Minus facial hair.

Love,

The Bozeman HipSTAR

see what I did there ?

yah gotta do, what yah gotta do. In this case its ripping a wall-ride at about 40 mph. Thats not even jammy-riffic. Thats KABLAMO!!!

I hella saw this hella right here...hella.

P.S. I don't really know why all 4 of these pictures are the same photo.

It's been awhile since I've posted anything here. Get over it.

Anyway, for the past year or so I've shifted focus from our local urban-esque bike scene and set my sights a bit more on what got me into bikes in the first place- mountain bikes. In addition to being more active in mountain bike advocacy I was also selected as one of eight members of Specialized's Stumpjumper Trail Crew- a group of bike geeks who love to share their passion. As part of this group I ride a pretty nice bike, take videos and pictures, and write about riding whenever I can.
Now, since this is Montana and it is winter I have to work a bit harder to get rides in. Sometimes, despite my winter bulk I can ride on packed snowy trails provided the snow has had enough feet walking on it. Usually, though it means getting in the car and going to Pipestone.
This is just what I did for New Year's Day. Bob over at Triple Ring Productions sent out a notice about the possibility of getting some folks together for a little knobby tire action. About a dozen of us converged at the lower parking lot around noon and got in a 3ish hour ride, about a third of which was on trails that were new to me.
While there I also brought SamH's GoPro camera and got some nice footage of some of the trails. Here's what I (finally) came up with:



This is the first video I've edited using OpenShot, so there's definitely some rough edges. By the time riding season is here for real I'll do a better job, I promise.

Anyway, here's another one. This is a continuous shot of one of the new trail Bob introduced us to. It's a fun, fast and flowy singletrack that doesn't ever get too steep yet has enough of an incline to really haul ass:



-DNA